3 Battalion. 29 September 1918
The Battle of the St. Quentin Canal. 29th September 1918
3rd Battalion, with 3rd Brigade, 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions, Australian – American Corp, 4th Army (OH)
3rd Battalion had 24 tanks in action on 25th September 1918 (w3)
A Company – Maj. Monk MC OC (H3)
8 tanks, including:
A326, “Crieff”
Capt O’Dowd PR
B Company
8 tanks, including:
B25, “Carmudgeon III”
B26, “Cynic IIIA”
B27, “Crusty III”
B39, “Crab V”
C Company
8 tanks, including:
Section - Capt Arnold
Section – Capt Archibald
L/Cpl. Kimberly
Cpl. Cousins
Notes
“Crief “ is given the WD number A325 on 3rd October.
Orders
A Company was with the 3rd Australian Division (W3)
B Company was with the 17th Armoured Car Battalion (W3)
C Company was with the 5th Australian Division (W3)
Australians to pass through the Americans and capture the second objective (OH)
Account of Operations
A Company
Whilst going from Hargicourt to F30 central, “A” company became aware that the attack was held up at Quennemont Farm (A20 central), Quennemont Copse (A19d.2.6), that the situation around Bray was very obscure and Bony was still in enemy hands. (W3) Heavy tanks were seen advancing, two were seen to receive direct hits (H3)
A326 was sent and silenced MGs (W3) on the left (H3) at A10d.1.6, the enemy surrendering on approach of the whippets (W3)
3 tanks under Capt O’Dowd PR were sent to silence MGs at A20c.1.9 and Quennemont Farm, the MGs ceased firing and surrendered to the infantry before the tanks reached the area. (W3)
As the advance was now held up the Infantry released the tanks and they rallied. (W3)
B Company
The company were at the RV point in F30c, (W3) the crossroads near Malakoff farm (H3) at 9:30am but the 17th AC battalion weren’t there. Capt Saunders EP was sent to investigate the situation in Bony; Capt Saunders carried out his orders and was wounded, the tank returned to the RV at 11:15am and then rallied under the command of 2Lt Ridley. (W3)
Meanwhile the company OIC had ascertained that the armoured cars had already pressed on ahead. The Whippets advanced at 11:10, on crossing over the ridge heavy Mg fire was encountered and the first four tanks, B25, B26, B27 and B39 were all knocked out by MGs whilst attempting to silence them. B25 was hit and burnt out; B26 suffered several direct hits; B27 was set afire and two of the crew were wounded whilst unsuccessfully fire fighting; B39 suffered a direct hit. (W3)
The rest of the company was ordered to retire and take up a position to resist a counter attack; they waited until 8 pm then withdrew. (W3)2Lt Ridley was sent to see if the knocked out tanks were salvageable and determined that they weren’t. (W3)
C Company
C company followed the 5th Australian Division from the Brown line (H3) at 9:15am. They stopped at G3d.1.5. at 10:15am; then the company moved forward to the Canal bank by 3pm. (W3)
At 3pm the infantry resumed the advance and crossed the canal, 5 Mk V tanks went in front of the infantry, the 8 whippets advanced behind; Capt Arnold’s section on the left and Capt Archibald’s on the right. (W3)
The whippets were ordered to remain behind the infantry until the Mk V tanks breached the Le Catelet – Nauroy line; the Whippets were then to pass though and lead the advance encircling but not entering Estrees. (W3)
All 5 Mk V tanks were KO as they crossed the high ground immediately east of the canal (W3) 2 whippets of Capt Sewell’s section ditched in the Catelet line about G5a.5.8; one tank fell on its side and the other bellied. The other two tanks of this section, L/Cpl. Kimberly and Cpl. Cousins moved along the trench, crossed it about C21b.7.3. and cleared the enemy from Nauroy wood with MG fire. Both tanks then returned and rallied. (W3)
One tank of Capt Arnold’s section broke down at C4a.6.8. The remaining three tanks were unable to cross the Catelet line and thus were only able to fire into Caberaet Wood before rallying. (W3)
Summary
Total Tanks: 24
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 4
Hit and Knocked out: 4
Rallied:
Notes
Aftermath
Sources
W3 – 3rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
H3 – 3rd Battalion War History. PRO WO 95-104
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 5 pg108f
St Quentin Canal - 29 September to 2 October (4th Army)